The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-05
THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRACY
A Disorderly State Convention. With a
Fist Fight as Side Attraction.
Qualified Endorsement of the National Admin
stration-Kentucky Idea of Civil-Sery-
ice ACKNOWLEDGEMENT for Governor.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

LOUISVILLE. Ky, May 4-Even standing room
in Liederkranz Hall was at premium when the
Democratic State convention called to order
at noon to-day. 1t is the largest po.itica! gath
ering in the State since the war, as we'll as the
most representative assembly that ever con-
vened in Kentucky. The place selected by the
gathering however, was ill-adapted for the pur-
pose The hall is reached by three fights of
stairs. and these, from 10 o'clock onward. were
packed with delegates, holders of gallery tickets
and a miscellaneous assortment of political
FOUNDERS. who josted. and crushed. and
swore. and created pandemonium gener-
ally. Many of the representatives of the
press compelled to seek the rear en-
and perform acrobatic feats in
order to reach the platform. About IL
o'clock four carriages containing Mrs. Speaker
Carlisle, Mrs. Senator Blackburn. Mrs Henry
Watterson Mrs. Governor Hindman, Mrs.
General Buckner, and dozen other ladies. all
in elegant costumes, drove MP to the main
trance and were on the point of retreating before
the crowd when a half dozen policemen man
aged to force path wsy to the hall. They were
given seats in the boxes and heartily appauded.
State Senator Hill of Hartford, was elected
temporary chairman. His address devoted
to State issues but when he incidentally re-
ferred to Mr. Cleveland as 1.-The honest, fearless
President who has discharged all the functions
of his Office with honesty and fidelity, and who
will again be intrusted with power" the hall
rang with applause
The appointment of the various committees
platform and credentials occupied the next hour,
and a recess was then taken until o'clock.
The question Of ndorsing the national admin
istration was prematurely sprung, and raised
decided breeze Everything had been running
smoothly and harmoniously, when CONGRESSMAN
J. A. Mckenzie. of Christian county, claimed
the attention of the chair and sent to the secre-
tary's desk the following
Resolved, That the Democracy of Kentucky has
marked with satisfaction and pleasure the wisdom
fidelity and courage with which Grover Cleveland
President of the United States had administered his
high office. and hereby tenders to him it's cordial as
surance of unfaltering confidence and support.
The resolution was greeted with moderate ap-
pause. in the midst of which Congressman VIM.
Preston Tauibee mounted his chair and made
excited protest against consideration of the
question involved until a permanent organiza-
had been effected. He limited very strongly that
numerous delegates had by various devices been
kept out of the hall and their seats filled with
people not entitled to admission. and amid loud
cries of ''Sit down." and mo. MOI he indirectly
charged that the convention had been packed in
the interest of the resolution.
The cries increased in volume and at
the top of his voice the Congressman de-
question
of the highest privilege. The resolution meant
omnibus Endorsement of the Presidents
course. The civil -service, the silver question
and the Des Moines- river bill and its character
required that it should be considered seriously
and fully.
Mr.. Mckenzie retorted that in Offering the
resolution it not his intention to indorse the
civil-service policy, for, thank God, it had been
his privilege to vote against it. At the same
time there was no pottering about the matter
1t was simply proposed to approve the honesty,
ipfo and IF adj nj and
nothing would he gained by antagonizinS the
general policy of the one man who was the most
available material of the party for the next
national campaign.
Mr.. Taulbee replied, amid some signs of impa-
tience that the resolution committed the Dem
people who furnished the votes would not in
dorse ard would not stand
At this point the chairman, approaching the
temper of the convention ruled the discussion
out of order. and ordered the resolution to the
committee on platform.
The rest of the afternoon session was devoted
to speech making. the committees on credentials
and permanent organization being unable to re-
port before night.
Senator Blackburn aroused considerable en-
thuslasm by calling upon the convention to
block out the pathway which would lead to a
Democratic national victory next year. He
made powerful appeal Cor harmony in connec-
ton with administration affairs, declaring that
while it true that the President had failed
to do many things which he should have done,
and had done many things which might better
cleanliness were alone sufficient to warrant the
party in placing him before the country a sec
ond time.
Col W. c. P Breckenridge spoke in the same
line. While Cleveland, he said, was not all that
Democrats would like him to be. he better
than any Republican that had ever been placed
before the people, and that since Americas first
President no more honest or Drawer man had
filed the executive chair of the United States.
Mr. Henry Watterson entered the hall, and
being recognized on the outskirts of the crowd,
Acair ad at mt h1c eli aanN tir Waf-
terson was escorted to the stand amid continu-
uous cheering The following are among the
salient points Of his speech:
Rarely in the history of the politics of the
country has there been greater need of some
vitalizing current in Democratic councils than
there now is. and where shall look to find
this vitalizing current if not in kentucky The
only distinct line of Democratic policy which at
this time awakens the enthusiasm of friends and
excites the denunciation of foes, is everywhere
described as the Kentucky idea Cheers
And what is the Kentucky ideal 1t is far
am BILE to interpret it-and if there is any
thing do understand. as the old woman said of
her blum it is the Democracy of kentucky
it is a sturdy clipging to the idea that govern
menr belongs to the many. and is not the
obstinate insistance that this idea shall be carried
into every administrative and legislative affair.
and applied alike to the sef-anonted and the
great unwashed. Laughter and applause
Fellow Democrats we have stumbled upon times
which, if they do not try mems souls. are enough
to nauseate dogs Laughter. Turn which
ever way you Will, IL snail go lucky
with you if you do not stick your nose
in a bottle of patent medicine prepared for the
regeneration of mankind The air is full of
nostrums There is the protectionists wonder
full iron tonic for making men rich by taxation.
Great laughter There is the mugwump's
civil-service elixir for purifying the system and
perpetuatirg liberty by the erection of repre-
sentative government. Cheers There is
frauds OVID panper patriotic liniment, which
proposes to exterminate vagabondage by making
every tramp pensioner lCheers and continued
laughterl and which should have actually
had administered to US but for the flv which
Grover Cleveland dropped into the first
box of the E3ointment submitted to his
ips pection Renewed cheering. There is
that delicious sugar-coated double compound
educational capsule, which is to be given to
every little niger in the land before he goes to
bed. and when he gets MP in the morning he
shall come forth a scholar and a gentleman.
Prolonged laughter And then there is Fox's
universal renovator and social. moral and polit-